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143 p. 46 145

Besides their stated feasts the Cherokees had many which were merely occasional. At the great feast in the spring, about planting time, the priest was requested to attend

to the season so as to render it fruitful. I call this man a priest because he offered the sacrifices of the people, and was their intercessor and was tilled? wholly by the town, and his family supplied, in part, at last with wnn?. Now if at any time the ground became dry and parched, or when the people began to desire right hand men, appointed seven men to hunt seven days and also seven men and seven women to fast the same length of time, as before the feast of first fruits. At the expiration of those days, when the hunters returned, the people again assembled, and a man was selected to take the deer skins the hunters had brought, and the end of the tongue of a deer for sacrifice to the priest requesting him to obtain rain?. This man was to continue with the priest during the process. Sacrifice offered, prayers &c addressed to all who were supposed to have any agency in causing rain? &c. The seven men and women appointed to fast, continued in the town house (having victuals brought to them, after the expiration of the seven fast days). Then the town assembled and held an all night dance, as words crossed out expression of gratitude.

When the weather was supposed to be too cold, the people assembled at the town house. The two right hand men of the priest, then selected seven men to gather seven large

bundles of sticks, one of peach, one of plum, one of mulberry, one of Locust, one of Black jack, one of grape vine and one of whortleberry (a large kind) The sticks being brought, the priest made a fire of them, and offered, as a burnt offering a tarapin shell, filled with tobacco, praying at the same time for warm weather.

But in case the weather was too warm a burnt offering of spanish oak, & ivy leaves was made.   When the priest perceived a storm arising which he feared might blow down, or injure the corn, he light his pipe, went into the door yard, and blew the tobacco smoke toward the cloud, praying the fire & smoke to turn away the storm.  But in case of

thunder, he adds a request to the thunder to turn to the mountains, to the white mats prepared for it. The means resorted to to affect the weather are almost imeasureable? and as absurd as they are numerous.